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1/21: South 107 gets a big-time signal upgrade, picks up NASCAR
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Country station South 107 (WTSH-FM) will be gettin’ some getty up and go in the signal department later this year thanks to a major signal upgrade.
The Federal Communications Commission on January 14 gave the station the thumbs up to go from 45,000 watts (medium strong) to 100,000 watts (maximum strength).
Its tower will remain in Kingston, Ga. between Rome and Cartersville, about 50 miles northwest from downtown Atlanta. Given its signal, it now can cover a 40 mile radius comfortably. Currently, the station can reach well down into Cobb County but is very weak inside the Perimeter and directions East and South.
The upgrade will enable South 107 to not only penetrate buildings better in Cobb County but also clear up the signal in much of metro Atlanta by enabling the signal to travel about 20 miles further. Relatively speaking, it would still be a weak signal in the Southeast and Northeast parts of Atlanta but for the first time, South could be a true metro Atlanta player.
Kevin Daniels, operations manager, said the station hopes to have the signal ready to go by mid 2009, though it may be delayed if Radio One, which operates 107.5, takes too long in building its new tower. In other words, for South 107 to make the upgrade, 107.5 has to move its tower a bit further east. That move will enable Radio One’s Hot 107.9 to upgrade its signal and hopefully compete better with V-103.
For former Kicks morning host Moby, this move will be a boon because he’s currently heard in syndicated form out of Athens on 106.1 there as well as South 107 and the Bear in Griffin. With this upgrade, Moby will have near comparable coverage (if not better on the northside) as Kicks.
Right now, Atlanta has two major signal FM country radio stations (Kicks and the Bull) and four “fringe” stations (The Bear in Griffin, 106.1 in Athens, South 107 in Rome and 96.7/The Legend south of the airport).
You can see South 107’s current coverage map here.. And for comparision, here’s the Kicks’ coverage area.
South 107 is also picking up NASCAR coverage on weekends from 106.7, which recently ended its contract after many years. The fact 106.7 went oldies was a major factor in the switch. It had been a country station for many years, which was more compatible to NASCAR.
-(In other radio sports news, our Braves man David O’Brien has reported that Jim Powell from the Milwaukee Brewers is going to be working the radio play by play this year for the Braves, as was previously rumored.)[http://www.ajc.com/services/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/01/21/atlantabravesbroadcasters.html] They also appear to be trying to get back Don Sutton from the Washington Nationals.
Comments
By Weak - literally
January 22, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this
Great.
Now you can’t hear NASCAR on the southside unless you’re driving in dumpy old Griffin.
The best thing coming out of Griffin is US 19-41.
By Michelle
January 22, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this
Man, Moby is like a cat with 9 lives, isn’t he! :)
By Steeler5812
January 22, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Hey Rodney,
Just a heads up, it’s Kevin Daniels, not Keith.
By AG
January 22, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this
You can pick up Nascar on 92.5/The Bear almost anywhere south of I-285. I am able to pick it up from McDonough up to Lakewood Fwy on my downtown commute daily.
By Kristen
January 23, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this
Kevin Daniels real name is Brian Lee out of Adarsville and South 107 always tries to be like kicks and the bull
By Country Listner
January 27, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this
Kristen - is that the same Kristen that graced the airwaves once at South 107? Of course they have to be like Kicks and Bull. That is their competition. Not much in the Rome market if you ask me. When I lived there I much rather listened to US 101 coming out of Chattanooga. Of course I listened to South 107 at times. Does Boomer still grace the airwaves over there? I know that guy and he has the personality of a stick when he is on the radio. Not much better off it either.
By countryboy
January 29, 2009 10:46 PM | Link to this
There were two Kristens who worked at South 107. There was the Kristen who worked at Kicks. But she went by a different name on 107 and I can’t remember it now. Then there was the Kristen who worked on the morning show with Kevin before Moby.
By rayenell duke
February 20, 2009 8:12 AM | Link to this
Good morning Moby ,
Just wanted to say LOVED the new Miley Cyrus song . PLEASE PLEASE play it often . along with JOHN RICH’s They are shutting Detriot Down, OUR COUNTRY’s leaders need to hear this one until they hear it in their sleep and dream about it!!!!